We Davids can indeed slay the Goliaths

Published: Saturday, November 23, 2013 at 4:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Friday, November 22, 2013 at 4:16 p.m.

I finally arrived back in beautiful Hendersonville last Tuesday after 2½ days of driving. I can normally do the trip from Canada in two days, but I had to drive out of a wicked snowstorm that hit Winnipeg the night before I left, and that slowed me down.

I had to go slow and it took a while, but eventually the snow on the ground and in the air tapered off, and I was able to go at a decent speed to my destination.

I love to listen to National Public Radio on long road trips. It sometimes has fascinating stories. This time I was fascinated by a piece about myths people have believed in for years but eventually are shocked to discover they are not true.

One interview, of author Malcolm Gladwell regarding his latest book, ”David and Goliath: Underdogs, Misfits, and the Art of Battling Giants,” intrigued me. In this book, Gladwell re-examines the story of David and Goliath and comes to an interesting conclusion.

We all know the story. The Philistines and the Israelites are duking it out and decide to send one warrior from each side to battle, with the victor getting the spoils. (It’d be great if we could do that in our time, but I would make a suggestion that we send our politicians, not our warriors. I’m sure there’d be a lot fewer wars.)

Goliath goes onto the field, and a kid named David approaches him with a staff in one hand and a sling in the other.

“What? Am I a dog that you come at me with sticks?” roars Goliath.

Before the mighty Goliath can decimate the kid, David revs up his little sling and hits the behemoth right between the eyes, killing him. It’s an epic story of an underdog defeating a mighty enemy. So epic, in fact, that “David and Goliath” has become part of the vernacular of our language.

But is it true? Goliath was a monster of a man, way bigger than the rest of the Philistines. Gladwell contends the reason for that was a benign tumor on his pituitary gland, the same type of tumor that allowed modern-day wrestler Andre the Giant to grow to such proportions. A side effect of that condition is often double vision.

“Am I a dog that you come at me with sticks?” David only had one stick, but Goliath saw two, Gladwell contends. He also contends that Goliath was slowed down in his movements by his condition. He may have been huge, but he was clumsy and couldn’t see properly.

As for David, Gladwell certainly doesn’t see him as an underdog.

There were three types of warriors in those days: guys with swords and spears, archers and slingers.

“The stopping power of a stone from a sling is comparable to the stopping power of a .45 handgun,” said Gladwell, “and these slingers were so accurate they could shoot birds out of the sky.”

So David, armed with an ancient equivalent of a .45 and the skill to use it, stands before a doddering, half-blind giant with only a sword, shoots him in the head and kills him. Goliath didn’t stand a chance!

There is an epic David and Goliath battle taking place in this country as you read this, dear reader. The politicians have forgotten who they work for. Republicans hate Democrats and Democrats hate Republicans. They won’t get along and make compromises, so the nation and the people suffer.

I know many people who have thrown up their hands. “We’re helpless. We can’t do anything about it. Nothing will change. We’re doomed.”

This myth is easy to believe when the media are full of examples of this helplessness, each one building the Goliath. On television, Fox, MSNBC and others push their “evil” agenda, inflaming the hate debate and dragging their respective parties further apart. There are some outright lies, scurrilous accusations and implying of misdeeds. There will be no end to it.

But I don’t believe in that myth.

I believe the vast majority of clear-minded Republicans could break bread with the vast majority of clear-minded Democrats and have a peaceful meal. I believe the vast majority of people want a government that works, not the laughable (if they weren’t so dangerous) folks running the show now.

We can drive out of this vitriolic snowstorm. We’ll have to go slow, and it’ll take a while, but eventually the snow in the air and on the ground will taper off and we can go at a decent speed to our destination.

In that vein, I would like to challenge both the Republican and Democratic leaders of Henderson County to write letters to the editor to this newspaper. The theme: How Republicans and Democrats can bridge the divide between them.

I would also like to challenge the two groups to meet and eat a meal together. Being human, they have much more in common than not. Being a centrist in the political sphere and unable to vote either way, I would welcome an invitation.

Perhaps Henderson County can serve as an example to the rest of the country. Goliath is big, he has control of much of the media, and he screams at us from all directions. But he is doddering, half-blind and armed with only a sword of spiteful words.

Clear-minded people on both sides of the political divide number in the millions, and they can protest — and, most importantly, sling a vote. David can slay this Goliath. He has a gun.

Bruce Benson is a Canadian writer and journalist who makes Hendersonville his home. Reach him at bensonusa@hotmail.com.

<p>I finally arrived back in beautiful Hendersonville last Tuesday after 2½ days of driving. I can normally do the trip from Canada in two days, but I had to drive out of a wicked snowstorm that hit Winnipeg the night before I left, and that slowed me down.</p><p>I had to go slow and it took a while, but eventually the snow on the ground and in the air tapered off, and I was able to go at a decent speed to my destination.</p><p>I love to listen to National Public Radio on long road trips. It sometimes has fascinating stories. This time I was fascinated by a piece about myths people have believed in for years but eventually are shocked to discover they are not true.</p><p>One interview, of author Malcolm Gladwell regarding his latest book, ”David and Goliath: Underdogs, Misfits, and the Art of Battling Giants,” intrigued me. In this book, Gladwell re-examines the story of David and Goliath and comes to an interesting conclusion.</p><p>We all know the story. The Philistines and the Israelites are duking it out and decide to send one warrior from each side to battle, with the victor getting the spoils. (It'd be great if we could do that in our time, but I would make a suggestion that we send our politicians, not our warriors. I'm sure there'd be a lot fewer wars.)</p><p>Goliath goes onto the field, and a kid named David approaches him with a staff in one hand and a sling in the other.</p><p>“What? Am I a dog that you come at me with sticks?” roars Goliath.</p><p>Before the mighty Goliath can decimate the kid, David revs up his little sling and hits the behemoth right between the eyes, killing him. It's an epic story of an underdog defeating a mighty enemy. So epic, in fact, that “David and Goliath” has become part of the vernacular of our language.</p><p>But is it true? Goliath was a monster of a man, way bigger than the rest of the Philistines. Gladwell contends the reason for that was a benign tumor on his pituitary gland, the same type of tumor that allowed modern-day wrestler Andre the Giant to grow to such proportions. A side effect of that condition is often double vision.</p><p>“Am I a dog that you come at me with sticks?” David only had one stick, but Goliath saw two, Gladwell contends. He also contends that Goliath was slowed down in his movements by his condition. He may have been huge, but he was clumsy and couldn't see properly.</p><p>As for David, Gladwell certainly doesn't see him as an underdog.</p><p>There were three types of warriors in those days: guys with swords and spears, archers and slingers.</p><p>“The stopping power of a stone from a sling is comparable to the stopping power of a .45 handgun,” said Gladwell, “and these slingers were so accurate they could shoot birds out of the sky.”</p><p>So David, armed with an ancient equivalent of a .45 and the skill to use it, stands before a doddering, half-blind giant with only a sword, shoots him in the head and kills him. Goliath didn't stand a chance!</p><p>There is an epic David and Goliath battle taking place in this country as you read this, dear reader. The politicians have forgotten who they work for. Republicans hate Democrats and Democrats hate Republicans. They won't get along and make compromises, so the nation and the people suffer.</p><p>I know many people who have thrown up their hands. “We're helpless. We can't do anything about it. Nothing will change. We're doomed.”</p><p>This myth is easy to believe when the media are full of examples of this helplessness, each one building the Goliath. On television, Fox, MSNBC and others push their “evil” agenda, inflaming the hate debate and dragging their respective parties further apart. There are some outright lies, scurrilous accusations and implying of misdeeds. There will be no end to it.</p><p>But I don't believe in that myth.</p><p>I believe the vast majority of clear-minded Republicans could break bread with the vast majority of clear-minded Democrats and have a peaceful meal. I believe the vast majority of people want a government that works, not the laughable (if they weren't so dangerous) folks running the show now.</p><p>We can drive out of this vitriolic snowstorm. We'll have to go slow, and it'll take a while, but eventually the snow in the air and on the ground will taper off and we can go at a decent speed to our destination.</p><p>In that vein, I would like to challenge both the Republican and Democratic leaders of Henderson County to write letters to the editor to this newspaper. The theme: How Republicans and Democrats can bridge the divide between them.</p><p>I would also like to challenge the two groups to meet and eat a meal together. Being human, they have much more in common than not. Being a centrist in the political sphere and unable to vote either way, I would welcome an invitation.</p><p>Perhaps Henderson County can serve as an example to the rest of the country. Goliath is big, he has control of much of the media, and he screams at us from all directions. But he is doddering, half-blind and armed with only a sword of spiteful words.</p><p>Clear-minded people on both sides of the political divide number in the millions, and they can protest — and, most importantly, sling a vote. David can slay this Goliath. He has a gun.</p><p><i>Bruce Benson is a Canadian writer and journalist who makes Hendersonville his home. Reach him at bensonusa@hotmail.com.</p>